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Globus The Best of the British Isles(GL)

20 days from London to London

From the lively cities to the breathtaking scenery, discover the very best of England, Scotland, Wales and Ireland on this British Isles tour. You’ll have 2-night stays in London, Edinburgh, Dublin, Limerick and Exeter as well as an overnight in Warwick, York, Inverness, Glasgow, Liverpool, Killarney, Waterford and Cardiff. You’ll visit some of Britain’s famous castles and palaces, including a special pre-public-opening guided tour of Warwick Castle and its 11 centuries of history. You’ll see Edinburgh Castle – home of the Scottish Crown Jewels – and the Queen’s official Scottish residence at Holyrood Palace (when available). You’ll also witness spectacular scenery on this British Isles escorted tour! You’ll cruise on Scotland’s Loch Lomond, pass through England’s beautiful Lake District and visit the 668-foot Cliffs of Moher, with its breathtaking views of rugged cliffs above the sea. Travel the Ring of Kerry for a 100-mile panoramic drive through rugged and magnificent landscapes, and drive through the incomparable landscapes of Snowdonia National Park in Wales. You’ll also cruise on one of the world’s great natural harbors at Plymouth Sound. You’ll enjoy visiting charming British towns, such as Shakespeare’s birthplace at Stratford-upon-Avon, the Victorian mountain resort of Pitlochry, as well as a Cornish fishing village and the Roman Baths and ruins. You’ll enjoy many pleasures, such as afternoon tea at a 150-year-old farmhouse in Ireland and a light lunch at Abbotsford House, Sir Walter Scott’s home in Scotland. All of this and much more await you on this fabulous British Isles escorted tour.

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Itinerary (2018)

Day 1

ARRIVE IN LONDON, ENGLAND.

Welcome to London! Uniformed Globus Hosts are available to help you make the most of your stay.

Day 2

LONDON.

Morning sightseeing with a Local Guide includes all the famous landmarks: the Houses of Parliament and Big Ben beside the Thames River, Westminster Abbey, Whitehall’s mounted horseguards and the Prime Minister’s Downing Street, Piccadilly Circus, and Buckingham Palace. The highlight is a visit to ST. PAUL’S CATHEDRAL, Sir Christopher Wren’s masterpiece built between 1675 and 1708. This afternoon, why not join an optional excursion to Windsor Castle or the Tower of London, and later, maybe an optional dinner, followed by a cruise on the Thames River? (B)

Day 3

LONDON–OXFORD–STRATFORD-UPON-AVON–WARWICK.

Meet your Tour Director and traveling companions and depart London at 8 am for a lovely day of sightseeing. Drive through Runnymede, site of the sealing of the Magna Carta in 1215, and then enjoy a walking tour through Oxford to see the colleges where Britain’s elite receives its outstanding education. At Stratford-upon-Avon, visit SHAKESPEARE’S BIRTHPLACE and take pictures of Anne Hathaway’s Cottage. Tonight, enjoy a welcome dinner at your hotel. (B,D)

Day 4

WARWICK–YORK.

A spectacular start to the day with a special, pre-public-opening guided tour of magnificent WARWICK CASTLE. Marvel at the opulent Great Hall and State Rooms, and visit the former private apartments. Later, in York, stand in awe in front of the great Minster, then follow your Tour Director through a maze of quaint streets, including the narrow Shambles. (B,D)

Day 5

YORK–JEDBURGH, SCOTLAND–ABBOTSFORD–EDINBURGH.

See a section of Hadrian’s Wall, and in Jedburgh, take pictures of the abbey ruins. Then, enjoy [LF] a light LUNCH at Ochiltree’s Dining before taking a guided tour of Sir Walter Scott’s ABBOTSFORD HOUSE. Spend the next two nights in Edinburgh, the Scottish capital. Tonight, consider an optional Scottish evening with Highland dancers, bagpipers, and the Ceremony of the Haggis. For departure numbers 0731 through 0821, tickets are included for tonight’s performance of the world-renowned MILITARY TATTOO. (B,L)

Day 6

EDINBURGH.

Morning city sightseeing with a Local Guide introduces you to the 200-year-old “New Town” and the famous scientists, inventors, and novelists who lived there. In the “Old Town,” drive up the narrow Royal Mile to EDINBURGH CASTLE to admire Scotland’s Crown Jewels, then explore HOLYROOD PALACE (when available). Afternoon at leisure. Later, a unique optional experience: board the former Royal Yacht Britannia, once the perfect royal residence for glittering state visits and family holidays. Dinner rounds off this optional evening. (B)

Day 7

EDINBURGH–ST. ANDREWS–PITLOCHRY–CULLODEN–INVERNESS.

Drive over the elegant Forth Road Bridge and through Fife to St. Andrews, whose Royal and Ancient Golf Club has given us the rules of golfing. Then, through Dundee and the Victorian mountain resort of Pitlochry to the CULLODEN VISITOR CENTRE, where you hear the story of the crushing Hanoverian victory over Bonnie Prince Charlie’s Scottish clans. Overnight at Inverness, the Highland capital. (B,D)

Day 8

INVERNESS–FORT WILLIAM–GLASGOW.

A day of glorious Highland scenery begins with a drive along the shores of Loch Ness, looking out for its mysterious monster. Then, at BEN NEVIS WHISKY DISTILLERY, discover the art of converting barley, water, and yeast into a heart-warming liquor. Along Loch Linnhe, over haunting Glen Coe, and across wild Rannoch Moor, you reach the “Bonnie Banks” of Loch Lomond for a CRUISE on the loch before heading south to Glasgow. (B,D)

Day 9

GLASGOW–GRETNA GREEN–LAKE DISTRICT, ENGLAND–LIVERPOOL.

On the way through the Lowland Hills, stop at Gretna Green, where the blacksmith used to wed runaway couples. Pause in the beautiful Lake District, recently awarded UNESCO World Heritage status, and in Liverpool, visit the award-winning BEATLES STORY, an atmospheric journey into the life, times, culture, and music of the “Fab Four.” (B)

Day 10

LIVERPOOL–NORTH WALES–DUBLIN, IRELAND.

Cross the border into North Wales and drive to lovely Betws-y-Coed and through the incomparable landscapes of Snowdonia National Park. After a stop at tongue-twisting Llanfair..., board your FERRY at Holyhead for the crossing to Dublin. For a first taste of Ireland, why not join an optional Irish cabaret evening, including dinner, dance, song, and laughter? (B)

Day 11

DUBLIN.

An orientation drive in the Irish capital includes statue-lined O’Connell Street, elegant Georgian squares, St. Patrick’s Cathedral, and Oscar Wilde’s Trinity College. The afternoon is at leisure for you to enjoy the vibrant city. Maybe take in an optional dinner outing to the Guinness Storehouse. (B)

Day 12

DUBLIN–KILDARE–CASHEL–LIMERICK.

Across the Curragh to the IRISH NATIONAL STUD at Kildare. On the way to Limerick, see the Rock of Cashel, Tipperary, and on arrival, an orientation drive acquaints you with St. Mary’s Cathedral, King John’s Castle, and the stone where the Treaty of Limerick was signed in 1691. Tonight, you might like to join an optional medieval banquet at an historic castle. (B)

Day 13

LIMERICK. WEST COAST EXCURSION.

A breathtaking view of the Clare coast from the 668-foot CLIFFS OF MOHER, then a drive across the limestone plateau of The Burren to the port city of Galway. Next, a special treat at RATHBAUN FARM: watch the farmer shear a sheep and maneuver a flock with the help of a sheep dog. Then, enjoy [LF] TRADITIONAL TEA in the 150-year-old farmhouse. (B)

Day 14

LIMERICK–ADARE–RING OF KERRY–KILLARNEY.

Via quaint Adare with its pretty thatched cottages and Killorglin on Dingle Bay, join the spectacular RING OF KERRY for a 100-mile panoramic drive around the island’s southwestern tip. Later, you might like to take an optional jaunting car ride through Killarney National Park, with glorious views of the Lakes of Killarney and ancient Ross Castle. (B,D)

Day 15

KILLARNEY–BLARNEY–WATERFORD.

Morning visit to Blarney, renowned for its magical Kissing Stone. Time for lunch, to walk up to the castle, and to shop for traditional Irish handicrafts. In the afternoon, proceed via Cork to Waterford, a stronghold founded by the Danish Vikings, where you join a guided tour of the HOUSE OF WATERFORD CRYSTAL. (B,D)

Day 16

WATERFORD–CARDIFF, WALES.

By FERRY from Rosslare, cross St. George’s Channel to Pembroke and drive through South Wales. Why not join an evening of Welsh entertainment and dinner tonight? (B)

Day 17

CARDIFF–BATH, ENGLAND–DARTMOOR–EXETER.

First this morning, travel to the elegant Georgian city of Bath to see the amazing excavations of the ROMAN BATHS. You will also have time to explore the town further on your own. Then, head into wild and romantic Dartmoor for a tasty [LF] DINNER at a local pub. The next two nights are spent in Exeter. (B,D)

Day 18

EXETER. CORNWALL EXCURSION.

Today’s excursion takes you to Cornwall, of Poldark fame, and to the pretty fishing village and former smuggler’s port of Looe. Then, follow in the footsteps of Drake, Raleigh, and the Pilgrim Fathers with a [LF] CRUISE on Plymouth Sound, one of the world’s great natural harbors. You will also have time at the historic Plymouth Barbican to see the Mayflower Steps before returning to Exeter. (B,D)

Day 19

EXETER–STONEHENGE–LONDON.

For the finale of your journey, travel to prehistoric STONEHENGE and try to unravel its mystery. Explore the visitor center with its imaginative exhibitions, then take the shuttle to the stone circle and admire the magnificence of the monument up close. Return to London around 4 pm. How about celebrating the success of your vacation by taking in one of the great West End shows? (B)

Day 20

LONDON.

Your vacation ends with breakfast this morning. (B)

Included Globus Meals

Full English breakfast daily; 1 lunch; 7 three-course dinners with wine and choice of menus, including a welcome dinner in Warwick plus 1 dinner at a local pub in Dartmoor

Globus Pricing Details

Prices are per person, based on double room occupancy.Single room supplement: $1261No Triple room reduction Extra nights per person in London:in single room $191-$281, in twin $109-$152, in triple $103-$143

Globus Notes

July 31 through August 21 Departures–Edinburgh Military Tattoo ticket included